Berhampur charts silk route to recognition

BERHAMPUR: Four products of Ganjam district - the Berhampuri patta saree, joda or silk dhoti, kewda flower and kewda flower rooh or essence - have been registered under the Geographical Indications (GI) of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act. Union minister of state for commerce and industry S Jagathrakshakan intimated Rajya Sabha member from the state Renubala Pradhan about the GI tag for the products recently. Pradhan had urged the government to ensure GI status for the famous Berhampuri patta (silk saree) and had written a letter to the concerned minister regarding it. "I thanked the ministry for giving reorganization to the Berhampur silk saree. I also thanked the officials of the textile department and the state government for taking initiation to ensure such a prestigious recognition for the product," Pradhan said.

GI sign is used on goods that have a specific geographical origin and possess qualities essentially attributed to the place of origin. It confers legal protection to the product and prevents its unauthorized use or manufacture by others. Weavers are upbeat about the GI registration of their product. "One will not imitate our designs any more," said weaver T Gopi. The Berhampuri silk saree is unique due to its typical Odissi style of weaving and kumbha, particularly phoda, temple type design. "The zari work border design is different from others," said a Berhampuri patta weaver. The weaving technique is said to have originated over 200 years ago. The finely woven sarees were known to be exported to southeast Asian and other countries through the Gopalpur port in the days of yore. The sarees also adorn the deities of Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra at the Jagannath temple in Puri.

The kewda flower and its rooh, produced after processing the flowers, is also unique to the region. The flower grows in at least four coastal blocks of the district - Chhatrapur, Rangeilunda, Ganjam and Chikiti. The kewda oil is extracted by processing the flowers in distilleries. Around 250 processing units, locally known as bhatis, were engaged in processing the flowers. The oil of the thorny flower is used in preparing gutka across the country, apart from its use in the perfume industry. After the ban on manufacture and sale of gutka in several states, including Odisha, most of the processing units have stopped operations. "The gutka ban has hit kewda farmers hard," said BJP yuva morcha president Bibhuti Jena. Around 50,000 people were dependent on the kewda essence industry for their livelihood. As many as 14 products of the state have earned the GI tag so far. Kotapada handloom fabrics, Odisha ikta, Konark stone carving, pattachitra, Pipili applique, Khandua saree and fabric, Gopalpur tussar, Dhalapathara Panda and fabric, Sambalapuri bandh saree and fabric, Bomkai saree and fabric and Habaspuri saree and fabric have got the recognition apart from the latest additions.

Source: Times of India